It is a 1994 American animated musical fantasy film. It is based on the ballet ‘Swan Lake’. Featuring Michelle Nicastro, Howard McGillin, Jack Palance with others. Directed by former Disney animation director Richard Rich. Music score by Lex de Azevedo.
It was released on 18 November, 1994. Made on a budget of $ 21 million it garnered $ 9.8 million, becoming a box office bomb. Partly due to struggling competition with a re-release of ‘The Lion King ‘ (1994).
Later it became popular through home videos & since has been followed by a series of direct to video sequels starting in 1997.
King William & his friend Queen Uberta both have a child. Uberta has a son, Derek & William has a daughter, Odette. The two want their children to marry when they grow upso they can join their kingdoms forever.
Sorcerer Rothbart plans to take King William ‘s kingdom for himself. William discovers his plans & banishes him from his kingdom. On reaching adulthood the two royals fall for each other. But Derek fails to tell her what he likes about her. She rejects him. Returning back, Rothbart transforms into a ‘Great animal’& fatally injures King William.
Dying William tells Derek about the great animal & Odette. The kingdom assumes she is dead but Derek is determined to find her. Rothbart casts a powerful spell on Odette & turns her into a swan. She can temporarily return to her original format night if she stands on the lake when moonlight touches it.
How will Derek find her?
The theme song ‘Far Longer than Forever’ is performed by Regina Belle & Jeffrey Osborne.The song was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1995 for Best Original Song.
The film was created by hand painting cels, a tedious technique which caused Rich & his crew over four years to produce the final product. Most of the cel painting was done at Hanho Heung Up in Seoul, South Korea.275 animators & artists worked throughout the film’s production.
Caryn James of The New York Times noted similarities to ‘Beauty & the Beast'(1991) writing that it was ‘not quite as good or fresh , but it’s delicious all the same, bound to amuse children & entertain their trapped parents, too’.
‘Swan Lake’ (1981 film) is an anime film based on the ballet ‘Swan Lake’ by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Directed by Kimio Yabuki. Songs were composed by Masashi Wakamatsu & performed by Columbia Orchestra, while lyrics were written by Etsuko Bushika.
It represnts the fourth episode of Toel’s World Masterpiece Fairy Tales, preceded by’The Wild Swans (1977), Thumbelina (1978 ), & ‘Twelve Months ( 1980).
It is the story of Prince Siegfried & Princess Odette. It is seen through the eyes of two squirrels, Hans & Margarita who are watching them.
A change from Miyazaki’s world. But that world is closer to me.
Asian Entertainment 